Virginia Law

Article 7. Partner's Dissociation When Business Not Wound Up.

A. If a partner is dissociated from a partnership without resulting in a dissolution and winding up of the partnership business under § 50-73.117, the partnership shall cause the dissociated partner's interest in the partnership to be purchased for a buyout price determined pursuant to subsection B.

B. The buyout price of a dissociated partner's interest is the amount that would have been distributable to the dissociating partner under subsection B of § 50-73.123 if, on the date of dissociation, the assets of the partnership were sold at a price equal to the greater of the liquidation value or the value based on a sale of the entire business as a going concern without the dissociated partner and the partnership were wound up as of that date. Interest shall be paid from the date of dissociation to the date of payment.

C. Damages for wrongful dissociation under subsection B of § 50-73.110, and all other amounts owing, whether or not presently due, from the dissociated partner to the partnership, shall be offset against the buyout price. Interest shall be paid from the date the amount owed becomes due to the date of payment.

D. A partnership shall indemnify a dissociated partner whose interest is being purchased against all partnership liabilities, whether incurred before or after the dissociation, except liabilities incurred by an act of the dissociated partner under § 50-73.113.

E. If no agreement for the purchase of a dissociated partner's interest is reached within 120 days after a written demand for payment, the partnership shall pay, or cause to be paid, in cash to the dissociated partner the amount the partnership estimates to be the buyout price and accrued interest, reduced by any offsets and accrued interest under subsection C.

F. If a deferred payment is authorized under subsection H, the partnership may tender a written offer to pay the amount it estimates to be the buyout price and accrued interest, reduced by any offsets under subsection C, stating the time of payment, the amount and type of security for payment, and the other terms and conditions of the obligation.

G. The payment or tender required by subsection E or subsection F shall be accompanied by the following:

1. A statement of partnership assets and liabilities as of the date of dissociation;

2. The latest available partnership balance sheet and income statement, if any;

3. An explanation of how the estimated amount of the payment was calculated; and

4. Written notice that the payment is in full satisfaction of the obligation to purchase unless, within 120 days after the written notice, the dissociated partner commences an action to determine the buyout price, any offsets under subsection C, or other terms of the obligation to purchase.

H. A partner who wrongfully dissociates before the expiration of a definite term or the completion of a particular undertaking is not entitled to payment of any portion of the buyout price until the expiration of the term or completion of the undertaking, unless the partner establishes to the satisfaction of the court that earlier payment will not cause undue hardship to the business of the partnership. A deferred payment shall bear interest and, to the extent it would not cause undue hardship to the partnership, be adequately secured.

I. A dissociated partner may maintain an action against the partnership, pursuant to subdivision B 2 a of § 50-73.103, to determine the buyout price of that partner's interest, any offsets under subsection C, or other terms of the obligation to purchase. The action shall be commenced within 120 days after the partnership has tendered payment or an offer to pay or within one year after written demand for payment if no payment or offer to pay is tendered. The court shall determine the buyout price of the dissociated partner's interest, any offset due under subsection C, and accrued interest, and enter judgment for any additional payment or refund. If deferred payment is authorized under subsection H, the court shall also determine the security for payment and other terms of the obligation to purchase. The court may assess reasonable attorney's fees and the fees and expenses of appraisers or other experts for a party to the action, in amounts the court finds equitable, against a party that the court finds acted arbitrarily, vexatiously, or not in good faith. The finding may be based on the partnership's failure to tender payment or an offer to pay or to comply with subsection G.

1996, c. 292.

A. For one year after a partner dissociates without resulting in a dissolution and winding up of the partnership business, the partnership, including a surviving partnership under Article 9, is bound by an act of the dissociated partner which would have bound the partnership under § 50-73.91 before dissociation only if at the time of entering into the transaction the other party:

1. Reasonably believed that the dissociated partner was then a partner;

2. Did not have notice of the partner's dissociation; and

3. Is not deemed to have had knowledge under subsection E of § 50-73.93 or notice under subsection C of § 50-73.115.

B. A dissociated partner is liable to the partnership for any damage caused to the partnership arising from an obligation incurred by the dissociated partner after dissociation for which the partnership is liable under subsection A.

1996, c. 292.

A. A partner's dissociation does not of itself discharge the partner's liability for a partnership obligation incurred before dissociation. A dissociated partner is not liable for a partnership obligation incurred after dissociation, except as otherwise provided in subsection B.

B. A partner who dissociates without resulting in a dissolution and winding up of the partnership business is liable as a partner to the other party in a transaction entered into by the partnership, or a surviving partnership under Article 9, within one year after the partner's dissociation, only if the obligation is one for which he would be liable under § 50-73.96 if he were a partner and at the time of entering into the transaction the other party:

1. Reasonably believed that the dissociated partner was then a partner;

2. Did not have notice of the partner's dissociation; and

3. Is not deemed to have had knowledge under subsection E of § 50-73.93 or notice under subsection C of § 50-73.115.

C. By agreement with the partnership creditor and the partners continuing the business, a dissociated partner may be released from liability for a partnership obligation.

D. A dissociated partner is released from liability for a partnership obligation if a partnership creditor, with notice of the partner's dissociation but without the partner's consent, agrees to a material alteration in the nature or time of payment of a partnership obligation.

1996, c. 292.

A. A dissociated partner named as a partner in a filed statement of partnership authority or in a list maintained by an agent pursuant to subsection B of § 50-73.93 or a partnership that has filed a statement of partnership authority that has not been canceled may file a statement of dissociation stating the name of the partnership, the identification number issued by the Commission to the partnership, and that the partner is dissociated from the partnership.

B. A statement of dissociation is a limitation on the authority of a dissociated partner for the purposes of subsections D and E of § 50-73.93.

C. For the purposes of subdivision A 3 of § 50-73.113 and subdivision B 3 of § 50-73.114, a person not a partner is deemed to have notice of the dissociation 90 days after the statement of dissociation is filed.

1996, c. 292; 2003, c. 567.

Continued use of a partnership name, or a dissociated partner's name as part thereof, by partners continuing the business does not of itself make the dissociated partner liable for an obligation of the partners or the partnership continuing the business.

1996, c. 292.